Posted on 04/16/2014 6:28:42 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Fear replaced communal atmosphere in Donetsk's Jewish community as armed men handed out a leaflet Passover eve calling on Jews register their religion and property with the interim pro-Russian government or face deportation and loss of citizenship.
(VIDEO-AT-LINK)
A leaflet distributed in Donetsk, Ukraine calling for all Jews over 16 years old to register as Jews marred the Jewish community's Passover festivities Monday (Passover eve), replacing them with feelings of concern.
The leaflet demanded the city's Jews supply a detailed list of all the property they own, or else have their citizenship revoked, face deportion and see their assets confiscated.
Donetsk, a Ukraine province with 4.3 million people - 10 percent of Ukraine's population - and 17,000 Jews, is home to much of the country's heavy industry, and is thus the biggest prize of the eastern regions where pro-Russian separatists have captured government buildings in the past week.
The leaflet, signed by Chairman of Donetsk's temporary government Denis Pushilin, was distrbiuted to Jews near the Donetsk synagogue and later in other areas of the city where pro-Russians activists have declared Donetsk as an independent "people's republic", defying an ultimatum from Kiev to surrender.
The leaflet was written in Russian and had Russia's national symbol on it, as well as the Donetsk People's Republic insignia.
"Dear Ukraine citizens of Jewish nationality," the flyer began, "due to the fact that the leaders of the Jewish community of Ukraine supported Bendery Junta," a reference to Stepan Bandera, the leader of the Ukrainian nationalist movement which fought for Ukrainian independence at the end of World War II, "and oppose the pro-Slavic People's Republic of Donetsk, (the interim government) has decided that all citizens of Jewish descent, over 16 years of age and residing within the republic's territory are required to report to the Commissioner for Nationalities in the Donetsk Regional Administration building and register."
The leaflet detailed what type of documents the Jewish citizens would need to supply: "ID and passport are required to register your Jewish religion, religious documents of family members, as well as documents establishing the rights to all real estate property that belongs to you, including vehicles."
If the message was not made clear enough, the leaflet further stipulated the consequences that would come to those who failed to abide by the new demands: "Evasion of registration will result in citizenship revoke and you will be forced outside the country with a confiscation of property."
To add insult to injury, the leaflet demanded the Jews pay a registration fee of $50.
The leaflet demanding the Jews to register their nationality or face deportation.
According to Alex Tenzer, a Kiev native and one of the directors of the National Association of Immigrants from the Former USSR in Israel, said: "The Jewish-Ukrainian leadership supports Ukraine's new government, but it's hard to tell whether the leaflet is valid or simply a provocation.
"Anyway, the material is very anti-Semitic and reminds me of the kind of material distributed by the Nazis in WWII."
Emanuelle Shechter, from Israel, received a copy of the leaflet via Whatsapp from his friends in Donetsk. "They told me that masked men were waiting for Jewish people after the Passover eve prayer, handed them the flyer and told them to obey its instructions."
Olga Reznikova, a member of Donetsk's Jewish community, told Ynet that "we do not know if the leaflet was spread by pro-Russian forces or someone else, but it did manage to create quite a fear. This reminds me of texts from darker times. Other members of the Jewish community I spoke with are not afraid, but it is unpleasant.
"I do not intend to register, I am 32, I have lived in Donetsk my entire life and have never had to deal with anti-Semitism until I laid eyes on this piece of paper. Though I take it very seriously, I am uncertain of its authenticity."
Ukrainian soldiers and pro-Russians activists in Donetsk.
Jenia from Israel, who also received the letter from a Jewish acquaintance, said "the Jews in Donetsk are uncertain of anything; it is unclear who is responsible for the leaflet and who controls the city at the moment.
"We don't feel safe like we used to because of the political instability in the area; there isn't a legitimate president or sovereign. Currently Donetsk is ruled by a junta."
In a response to a request by a Ukrainian Jewish website, Pushilin, the interim government's regional chairman, confirmed that the flyers were distributed by his organization, but denied any connection to the leaflet's content.
I hope that this time, the Jews go down fighting.
Yup...you’re right. It was hiding right in plain sight.
Denial was strong among Jews in 1930's Germany too.
They were safe enough there under the Austrians and Hungarians but when the Russians came that all changed.
That was then. This is now. Never Again.
Russian counter propaganda
And that Means Everywhere! The Ukraine Included!
This is the gang Kerry the Horsefaced Boy was trying to pressure Israel to support?
I think the Russians probably passed them out
are you folking kidding me?
It has been speculated that the Soviets murdered far more Jews than Hitler did. However we don’t have photos because they didn’t loose the war and get invaded.
Bull crap. This leaflet is an obvious provocation by Kiev authorities.
Bullcrap? Just like the Russians telling us that the revolution was provoked by American interests and had snipers killing Russians...then we see actual video of the Russian killers in arms, high fiving after murdering about 100 protesters. Yeah...sure..bullcrap.
You can put a name of George Bush or Bibi Netaniahu instead of Dennis Pushilin on this rag for more authentic looks.
One really need to learn smelling bullcrap, or you’ll have Barry Odungo the Kenyan as president one day. Oh, wait...
whatever...you make no sense.
Ok, if you think so. Have a nice day!
You do understand that Pushilin admits it was his group passing them out, right?
~You do understand that Pushilin admits it was his group passing them out, right?~
If you think he did, based on this article, you are unable to recognize propaganda.
Don’t list anything. Don’t register anywhere. Take your possessions and yourselves and leave as quickly as possible, and tell them to shove their citizenship up chocolate highway.
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